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There is a lot of curiosity and even fear about what might be ahead for Michigan public schools and their dramatically shrinking budgets.

I’ve been ask many questions about our local Flat Rock Community Schools plan. My general thinking is supportive of Flat Rock School Board President Norm Haase’s recent letter to the Flat Rock Community [PDF] and I added some of my own thoughts on the Flat Rock school budget yesterday.

However, I thought it might be helpful to share some of the news and resources I follow, outside of our internal Flat Rock School Board budget review process. Take a look and what I read to shape my opinion (In addition to your input, of course). If you know of others please leave a comment and reference below.

Education Websites I Frequent

• Flat Rock Community Schools
• Michigan Department of Education
• Wayne RESA
• Michigan Association of School Boards
• Education Report (Mackinac Center for Public Policy)
• SOS (Save Our Students, Schools, and State) Michigan

Recent Reports & Studies I Have Read

• Michigan Race to the Top – Executive Summary [PDF] (MDE)
• Issue Guide for Budget and Tax Reform [PDF] (SOS Michigan)
• Are Schools Underfunded? (Mackinac Center)
• Public Pension Plans Need to Reflect Reality (Mackinac Center)
• School Privatization Survey 2009 (Mackinac Center)
• Michigan School Funding Crisis (Excellent video from Washtenaw Intermediate School District)

Recent News from State & Other School Districts

• Granholm seeks to retire 46,000 to address deficit (Lansing State Journal)
• Granholm proposes retirement incentives for school, state employees (Lansing State Journal)
• Retirees from schools get boost, but others to see cuts in benefits (Lansing State Journal)
• Lansing superintendent turns to employees (Lansing State Journal)
• Governor Announces Retirement Reform for Public School Employees (MASB)
• Birch Run schools offer teacher buyouts (MLive.com)
• School district may offer teachers buyouts to cut costs (The Oakland Press)
• Portage teachers weigh buyout offers (MLive.com)
• Armada offers teacher buyouts (The Macomb Daily)
• Study finds early education saves Michigan billions (MLive.com)
• Trenton: School workers agree to pay cuts, reduced benefits (The News-Herald)
• Taylor: School district seeks state’s help in deciphering budget (The News-Herald)
• Interim superintendent chosen to fill post for now (The News-Herald)
• Melvindale: School district considering privatizing some services (The News Herald)
• Melvindale: District begins second semester with teacher cuts (The News-Herald)
• Southgate: City, schools talking about consolidating into City Hall (The News-Herald)
• Monroe reconsiders Race to Top (Monroe News)

State Legislation I’m Watching

• SB 1046 – Requiring employers to pay no more than 80% of health insurance premiums
• SB 1047 – Allowing for the creation of a state employee health plan
• SB 1073 – Reducing administrative costs to no more than 28% for school districts
• SB 1074 – Requiring mandatory competitive bidding

The information is a little overwhelming, but at the same time it is nice that we are not having to make these difficult decisions alone. I will continue to keep on top of what others are recommending and doing—making every attempt to guide us down the best long-term path for Flat Rock Community Schools.